World War One

mikewest · Post by **mikewest** » Wed Jul 09, 2003 12:51 pm

On the main website - I noticed a tab for World War One era games. Is there one in the pipeline?

Does anyone know of a good game from this period?

Fred98 · Post by **Fred98** » Wed Jul 09, 2003 1:36 pm

It would need to be at the squad level.

A WW1 game at the operational or strategic level would be boring as hell.

WW1 was logistics heaven.

If you are into logistics a great game could be made. But sales would be low.

AbsntMndedProf · Post by **AbsntMndedProf** » Wed Jul 09, 2003 2:47 pm

I could get into a squad level WW I game! (Perhaps CL could have a WW I mod in the distant future, after all the WW II mods are done.)

Eric Maietta

AbsntMndedProf · Post by **AbsntMndedProf** » Wed Jul 09, 2003 2:49 pm

And after the CL modern mod, of course. Forgot to mention that one.

:rolleyes:

Eric Maietta

Les_the_Sarge_9_1 · Post by **Les_the_Sarge_9_1** » Wed Jul 09, 2003 6:05 pm

There were some regions where the fighting during WW1 was interesting.

But if the game takes place anywhere on the standard frontlines of France you can assume I won't be interested at any scale.

A get set in Lawrence's Arabia would be interesting potentially. Or perhaps the fighting in Africa. Or maybe mountain fighting.

But the trenches can just forget me.

AbsntMndedProf · Post by **AbsntMndedProf** » Wed Jul 09, 2003 6:09 pm

The Eastern Front in WW I would also be very interesting, IMHO, lots of movement, flanking, and chaos. The stuff that good wargames are made of.

:D

Eric Maietta

jnier · Post by **jnier** » Thu Jul 10, 2003 3:05 am

There are lots of intriguing possibilities at the strategic level...only the Western Front became bogged down. The old Avalon Hill game Guns of August (WW1 strategic level) was great - the SPI treatment of the topic was good too.

Frank Hunter is currently developing a strategic level WW1 game and it looks pretty darn good. Here's the link.

www.adanaccommandstudies.com/IntroTrench.html

Mad Cow · Post by **Mad Cow** » Thu Jul 10, 2003 3:20 am

Originally posted by Joe 98
It would need to be at the squad level.

A WW1 game at the operational or strategic level would be boring as hell.

Not true, a game dealing with the initial German invasion of France and the Low Countries in August of 1914 would be very interesting to play, and I have enjoyed a few TOAW scenarios (Home Before the Leaves Fall, France '14.)

Also, the battles on the eastern front were very fluid.

There are a lot of possibilities for operational or strategic games based on WWI, however, there is just not the market to justify it, I don't think.

Ross Moorhouse · Post by **Ross Moorhouse** » Thu Jul 10, 2003 3:45 am

Originally posted by Les the Sarge 9-1
There were some regions where the fighting during WW1 was interesting.

But if the game takes place anywhere on the standard frontlines of France you can assume I won't be interested at any scale.

A get set in Lawrence's Arabia would be interesting potentially. Or perhaps the fighting in Africa. Or maybe mountain fighting.

But the trenches can just forget me.

So true Les. But not just Lawrence. He was a minor person in the whole scheme of things. Allenby's Wars. Palestine-Arabian Campaigns of 1916 to 1918 would make for a great game.

Or the Ottman Expansion from 1912 to 1918. This could also cover the Balkans and the Dardenlles all the way through to their down fall in Palestine.

All of the above are fluid battles with very little long dug-in trench war fare.

Also some of the Western Front battles would be good too. The Battle of Loos. Verdun etc.

One day I hope my dream of a great WWI game will be fulfilled.

Kent Pfeiffer · Post by **Kent Pfeiffer** » Thu Jul 10, 2003 5:06 am

Originally posted by Ross Moorhouse

One day I hope my dream of a great WWI game will be fulfilled.

It's already been made. It's called Paths of Glory, designed by Ted Racier and published by GMT Games. Not only is it one of the best WWI games ever made, it's also one of the best selling board wargames of the past 10 years, reguardless of subject matter.

There are also two excellent operational scale games set in WWI, Drive on Paris and Operation Michael, designed by Dean Essig and published by The Gamers/MMP.

pasternakski · Post by **pasternakski** » Thu Jul 10, 2003 5:28 am

Good call, Kent. Ted's series of games (including his excellent studies of the Russian Revolution in "Reds" and the Napoleonic era in "Napoleonic Wars") would be, in my estimation, perfect subjects for Matrix computer versions. The game system, which is a hybrid of board games and card-driven games, is crisp, simple to understand, and offers replayability galore, and is amenable to two-player, multi-player, and solitaire enjoyment.

Worth a look, Ross! But do UV-Mediterranean first...

AbsntMndedProf · Post by **AbsntMndedProf** » Thu Jul 10, 2003 5:35 am

Besides, it would be fun to fire off one of these monsters:

:D

Eric Maietta

Ross Moorhouse · Post by **Ross Moorhouse** » Thu Jul 10, 2003 9:55 am

Originally posted by pasternakski

Worth a look, Ross! But do UV-Mediterranean first...

I can't tell you whats on the design board. If I did I would have to kill myself and then you.

Ian Packham · Post by **Ian Packham** » Thu Jul 10, 2003 11:55 am

Originally posted by Ross Moorhouse
I can't tell you whats on the design board. If I did I would have to kill myself and then you.

Err.....if you kill yourself first then how will you kill Pasternakski. Suggest you switch your priorities.

While you are on your killing spree, may I recommend some other names for immediate termination. The list is quite extensive so be sure to purchase sufficient ammo. Logistics is key to any successful campaign.

Maliki · Post by **Maliki** » Thu Jul 10, 2003 4:12 pm

I too would like to see a WWI game,even if it did involve the west front.Everyones always critical of the WWI generals but it would be interesting to see if you could do better faced with the same set of problems.